The management of Jay FM Jos on Thursday called on the National
Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to free itself from “political
manipulation” by persons who wield power in high places, and from people
who have conscripted themselves in the army of enemies of “liberty,
justice, and freedom” in the country.
The management also stated that it has credible information that the
powers-that-be in Plateau State in collaboration with those in the
presidency were behind the continuous shutdown of the radio station.
They said as a result of the aforementioned, the organization is left
with no option but to seek legal redress in a court of law.
Jay FM, through its Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Clinton Garuba, stated this in Jos, the state capital.
Clinton said, “It has become incumbent for us at Jay FM Jos to speak
as a follow up to our Press Conference of 2nd March, 2019, and
hopefully, an update to our indefatigable fans, followers, listeners,
and supporters on the status of the station and the state of our
struggle.
“Importantly, we want to use the momentous opportunity of to call on
the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, the regulator of broadcasting
in Nigeria, to free itself from political manipulation by people who
wield power in high places, and those who have conscripted themselves in
the army of the enemies of liberty, justice, and freedom in Nigeria.”
It would recalled that Jay FM Jos was shut down under controversial circumstances on 1st March, 2019 by the NBC.
NBC had, in a letter signed by its Jos Zonal Director, alleged that
the station’s continued broadcast may lead to breakdown of law and
order.
The Commission referred to two instances when the Station was
sanctioned few days to the 2019 Presidential Elections, the first being a
N100, 000 fine on 16th February, 2019 for airing a News Commentary
titled “Does Buhari Deserve a Second Term?” written by Chris Gyang a
listener, and the second being a warning on 18th February, 2019 for
airing a News Sound Bite by Bishop David Abioye charging his followers
on how they should vote.
The Commission at that time accused Jay FM of glamourizing Alhaji
Atiku Abubakar the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP in that election, and broadcasting divisive content
respectively.
However, the Managing Director said, “While communicating the
directive to shut down the station believed to have been handed down
from above, the NBC failed to give one instance from the last sanction
of 18th February, 2019 to 1st March, 2019, the shutdown day, whether Jay
FM was involved in any form of breach or improper conduct that would
warrant a heavy and unfair sanction as a shutdown, especially as it
amounts to double jeopardy to issue punishment a second time for the
same offence.”
